Symptom: Muscle twitch

Introduction: Muscle twitch

Muscle twitches are small involuntary muscle spasms. See muscle spasms for more detailed analysis of the causes of all types of muscle spasms. See also tics for discussion of small muscular twitch tics. Note that the symptom of shakiness is called tremor rather than twitching.

» Review Causes of Muscle twitch: full list

Causes of Muscle twitch:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Muscle twitch. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Other types of movement symptoms or disorders that might be imprecisely called a twitch include:
  • Tics
  • Tremor
  • Trembling
  • Spasm
  • Muscle spasm
  • Chorea
  • Myoclonus
  • Convulsions
• Psychological disorders that may cause muscle twitch include:
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Tic disorders
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Chronic motor tic (see Tics)
  • Transient tic disorder

See full list of 81 causes of Muscle twitch

» Review Causes of Muscle twitch: full list

Causes of Types of Muscle twitch:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Muscle twitch:

• Twitches (42 causes)
• Tic (33 causes)
• Jerky movements (2 causes)
• Tics (5 causes)
• Myokymia (9 causes)
• Facial Myokymia (5 causes)
• Generalized Myokymia (9 causes)
• Eyelid Myokymia (5 causes)

More types of Muscle twitch

Muscle twitch: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Muscle twitch, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Muscle twitch: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Muscle twitch and Itching skin (74 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Muscle spasms (74 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Muscle symptoms (74 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Skin problems (71 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Skin symptoms (71 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Seizures (69 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Movement symptoms (58 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Spasms (50 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Nerve symptoms (40 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Pain (38 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Sensations (38 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Speech symptoms (38 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Behavioral symptoms (37 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Weakness (36 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Personality symptoms (33 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Muscle weakness (31 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Society problems (30 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Mental problems (29 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Head symptoms (27 causes)
• Muscle twitch and Muscle aches (24 causes)

See full list of 654 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Muscle twitch

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Muscle spasms (1139 causes)
• Itching skin (808 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2550 causes)
• Seizures (1403 causes)
• Skin symptoms (1824 causes)
• Skin problems (1673 causes)
• Movement symptoms (1701 causes)
• Spasms (1229 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Muscle twitch

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Muscle twitch:

• Muscle spasms (1139 causes)
• Tics (5 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2550 causes)
• Twitching (42 causes)
• Tremor (137 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Muscle twitch

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Muscle twitch from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Muscle twitch. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Muscle twitch

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic tests for Muscle twitch:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Muscle twitch. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspect for muscle fasciculations (irregular contractions of small areas of muscle which have no rhythmical pattern, are present at rest but not during voluntary movement). This suggests motor neurone disease which cause muscle cramps
  • Observe for chorea (non- repetitive abrupt involuntary jerky movements) that can cause coordination problems. Causes of chorea include Huntington's chorea, Sydenham's chorea, Wilson's disease and senility
  • Central and peripheral nervous system examination including muscular tone, power, reflexes and coordination
• Blood tests

See full list of 18 diagnostic tests for Muscle twitch

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Muscle twitch. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had muscle twitches? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• What exactly do you mean by muscle twitches? - The word twitch may be used by people to describe muscle spasms, muscle cramps, tremor, tics, chorea, myoclonus and seizures. Cramps are painful muscle spasms. Tics are brief, repeated stereotyped movements. Chorea is a continuous flow of jerky movements, flitting randomly from one limb or part to another; each movement looks like a fragment of a normal movement. Seizures may involve muscle stiffness and jerking. Myoclonus is a sudden, involuntary jerking of a single muscle or a group of muscles.
• Which muscles in the body are involved? - e.g. Forearm cramps and twitches suggest motor neurone disease. Cramp in the legs are common, especially at night and after exercise. Cramps in the legs are only occasionally a symptom of disease, in particular salt depletion, lack of blood flow to a muscle and disease of a muscle (myopathy). Writer's cramp is the specific compliant of an inability to perform the motor act of writing. Tics most commonly occur on the face, neck or hand. Hemifacial spasm occurs on one side of the face.
• When do the twitches occur? - e.g. at night, in bed, after exercise.
• Is there a simple explanation for the muscle twitches? - e.g. muscle cramps may be caused by exertion, exercise, excessive perspiration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke or pregnancy.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle twitch (18 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Muscle twitch) may include:

• Symptoms of polymyositis and dermatomyositis? - e.g. muscle weakness, especially in thighs and upper arms, muscle aches, muscle cramps (spasms), joint pain, Raynaud's phenomenon, difficulty with swallowing. Dermatomyositis also features a characteristic violet colored rash over the eyelids, forehead, cheeks, hands, knees and elbows.
• Symptoms of chronic renal failure? - e.g. tiredness, reduced appetite, insomnia, frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps (spasms).
• Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus? - e.g. frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss (especially in Type 1 Diabetes mellitus), tiredness, fatigue, increased infections especially of the skin and genitals, blurry vision, muscle cramps (spasms).
• Symptoms of progressive muscular atrophy? - e.g. muscle wasting and weakness usually beginning in the small muscles of one hand and then spreads throughout the arm, wasting soon follows on the opposite side. Muscle cramps may occur. Muscle fasciculations (irregular contractions of small areas of muscle which have no rhythmical pattern) are present at rest but not during voluntary movement).
• Symptoms of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome? - e.g. muscle tics with irrepressible, explosive, occasionally obscene language.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle twitch (18 listings)

Stories from Users for Muscle twitch

Real-life user stories relating to Muscle twitch:

• Muscle twitches/spasms
• Be gone twitching!! Any ideas on what to search to aid in a Dx?
• muscle twitching and anxiety
• Jerking, Twitching of Muscles
• Muscle twitches driving me nuts! Any ideas???
• Be gone twitching!! - what else can I look at to help with a Dx?
• Eyebrow-area muscle twitching - several months
• Violent Twitches
• muscle twitches
• muscle twitching, nausea, hot flashes?
• 6 month old with muscle spasms/twitching
• annoying twitches
• Muscle Twitching or Fasciculations - please help me!
• twitches
• i shake and twitch and i cant control it
• twitching?
• Twitching
• Muscle twitches and a whole bunch other things
• Neuropathy and Muscle Twitch What do I have?
• twitching,shudders, jerking, flailing please HELP!!

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Muscle twitch or relevant symptoms:

• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories

Videos for Muscle twitch

Patient Surveys for Muscle twitch

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Medications or substances causing Muscle twitch:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Muscle twitch as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Pheneizine
• Tranylcypromine
• Parstelin
• Dexchlorpheniramine
• Chlorpheniramine

See full list of 79 medications causing Muscle twitch

Drug interactions causing Muscle twitch:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Muscle twitch as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Bumex (Bumetanide) and Cibalith-S interaction
• Diachlor (Chlorothiazide) and Cibalith-S interaction
• Diuril (Chlorothiazide) and Cibalith-S interaction
• Diucardin (Hydroflumethiazide) and Cibalith-S interaction
• Saluron (Hydroflumethiazide) and Cibalith-S interaction

See full list of 270 drug interactions causing Muscle twitch

Organs affected by Muscle twitch:

The list of organs typically affected by Muscle twitch may include, but is not limited to:

• Muscle

Detailed list of causes of Muscle twitch

The list below shows some of the causes of Muscle twitch mentioned in various sources:

• Acid-Base Imbalance - twitching
• Adult progressive spinal muscular atrophy, Aran Duchenne type - muscle twitching
• Aicardi syndrome - twitching
• Alkalosis - muscle twitches
• Alzheimer disease 10 - muscle twitching

See full list of 81 causes of Muscle twitch

How Common are these Causes of Muscle twitch?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Muscle twitch. Of the 81 causes of Muscle twitch that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 0 causes are "very common" diseases
• 2 causes are "common" diseases
• 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 2 causes are "rare" diseases
• 2 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 76 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 81 causes of Muscle twitch

Conditions listing symptoms: Muscle twitch:

The following list of conditions have 'Muscle twitch' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Muscle twitch?

Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Muscle twitch, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

• General practitioner
• Emergency physician
• Neurologist

Classifications of Muscle twitch:

Subtypes of Muscle twitch:

Twitches (23 causes), Tic (23 causes), Jerky movements (2 causes), Tics (5 causes), Myokymia (3 causes), Facial Myokymia (1 cause), Generalized Myokymia, Eyelid Myokymia

Medical Conditions associated with Muscle twitch:

Muscle spasms (1099 causes), Itching skin (640 causes), Muscle symptoms (2523 causes), Seizures (1195 causes), Skin symptoms (1814 causes), Skin problems (1663 causes), Movement symptoms (1674 causes), Spasms (1197 causes)

Symptoms related to Muscle twitch:

Muscle spasms (1099 causes), Tics (5 causes), Muscle symptoms (2523 causes), Twitching (23 causes), Tremor (88 causes)

Muscle twitch as a disease:

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Medical News summaries about Muscle twitch

Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Muscle twitch and many other medical conditions:

• Symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome can have different frequency, form and intensity of symptoms

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